Outdoor Clinics and Events
Learn a new skill and get involved with the Outdoor Adventure Community with our clinics and special events!
Rec Sports' Outdoor Adventure Center offers specialized adventure clinics and events throughout the year addressing a specific topic relating to outdoor adventure travel. By joining an adventure clinic, you will improve your skill level in a particular area, increase your overall awareness of adventure traveling and have a chance to make new friends!
New!
Diversity in Outdoor Recreation Series
An ongoing series where we will engage in a dialogue around justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in outdoor spaces. The goal of these nights is to spark discussion about access and representation as well as to foster learning, allyship and community. Following this dialogue, there will be open rock climbing and bouldering for all to come together and have fun! No climbing experience required. All are welcome! More details below.
- Celebration of Mental Health
Thursday, March 9: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Rachel Mangold (she/her), Wellness Coaching Coordinator at the Student Wellness Center, will be speaking about how and when to ask for help. This event will also feature a panel of students and staff discussing their experience with their own mental health and answering questions from the audience. Registration is FREE and open now. - Celebration of LGBTQ+ Folks
Thursday, March 23: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Shannon Schneider (he/him), Founder and President of Queer Climbing Columbus (QCC), and Caroline Thompson (she/her), Vice President of QCC and part of the She Moves Mountains project, will come speak about Trans folks in sports and the outdoors and how QCC helps with accessibility and increasing representation of outdoor spaces. Registration is FREE and open now. - Celebration of BIPOC Folks
Thursday, April 6: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Leslie Luna (she/her), an OSU OTD student, will be facilitating a discussion about accessibility, cultural and community considerations that accompany outdoor recreation, intersectionality, how to navigate these spaces as a BIPOC and how to support others in their exploration of outdoor recreation. Registration is FREE and open now.
Wellness Series
- REACH Suicide Prevention Training
Wednesday, March 8: 7:30-9 p.m.
Help prevent suicide by learning how to: Recognize warning signs, Engage with empathy, Ask directly about suicide, Communicate hope and Help folks that are suicidal access care and treatment. Participants who finish the training receive certificates verifying their completion of the program. Registration is FREE and open now. - Life’s Tough, and So Are You!
Tuesday, March 28: 8-9 p.m.
Overview of resilience and stress management, increase their awareness of their ability to handle challenges and help students identify ways to build their resilience now and in the future. Registration is FREE and open now. - Mental Health First Aid Training
Monday, April 10: 5:30-8:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 11: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Participants will learn about mental health and substance-use to equip folks to identify, understand and respond. Attendance to BOTH 3-hour sessions is required to receive Adult Mental Health First Aid certification. This course will be offered both in-person at the OAC and via Zoom. Registration is FREE and open now.
Clinics
Top Rope Belay Clinics
Top Rope Belay Clinics are held each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the semester. These 90-minute clinics teach you about harnesses, belay devices and other equipment used at the OAC for climbing and prepare you to become belay certified.
- Mondays: 3:30-5 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 4:30-6 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
- Thursdays: 4:30-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.
View offerings and register here at least 24 hours in advance.
Kayak Roll Clinics
Learn how to flip a kayak upright after flipping upside down in the water! Clinics are held every other Tuesday from 8-10 p.m. No prior experience required.
View offerings and register here at least 24 hours in advance.
Backpacking 101
Wednesday, March 22: 8-9 p.m.
Looking to plan a backpacking adventure trip, but not sure where to start? Attend this clinic to learn the basic skills of backpacking and how to plan a personal backpacking trip!
Registration is FREE and open now!
Lead Climbing
The OAC allows lead climbing, a type of climbing where the climber must clip the rope to fixed points on the wall as ascending. It is a specialized skill with greater risk and requires prior knowledge or training. To lead climb at the OAC, patrons can become lead certified by successfully passing the lead practical test which can be taken anytime the gym has 20 people or less. Individuals seeking the OAC Lead Certification are encouraged to attend one of our Lead Climbing Clinics.
Interested participants must have held their OAC Top Rope Belay Certification for a minimum of 30 days. Specific rope for lead climbing is provided by the OAC or patrons may bring their own rope. Helmets are required when lead climbing and are provided by the OAC.
- Thursdays: 9 a.m. – noon (March 23, March 30 and April 6)
- Saturdays: 9 a.m. – noon (March 25 and April 1)
View offerings and register here at least 24 hours in advance.
Events
Women’s Climbing Night
This event is for women to have a space to share with those who have a similar identity. The OAC staff hopes to increase access and provide mentorship for people whose identities are underrepresented in the climbing community. Anyone who identifies as a man (he/him/his) are kindly asked to refrain from registering for this event.
- Monday, March 6: 8-10 p.m.
- Monday, April 3: 8-10 p.m.